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Eastern Illinois (4-2, 0-1 Big South-OVC) at Southeast Missouri (1-4, 1-0 Big South-OVC)
Houck Field (8,000)  •   Cape Girardeau, Mo.
October 14, 2023  •   2 p.m.   •   TV: ESPN+

GAME COVERAGE LINKS
EIU Game Notes  |  SEMO Game Notes  |  Listen Live  |  Live Stats  |  Watch on ESPN+

NOTES TO KNOW
• Quarterback Pierce Holley passed for a season-high 359 yards on Saturday in the Panthers overtime loss to UT Martin. Holley was named the Big South-OVC Football Association Player of the Week on Monday.  It was the second straight year that an EIU quarterback has passed for more than 300-yards against the Skyhawks defense.  Holley finished the day 29-of-48 with four touchdown passes.  The last time EIU had a quarterback throw four touchdown passes in a game was late September 2018 when Harry Woodbery had five touchdown passes against Tennessee Tech.  Holley is currently 8th in the FCS in passing yards (256.8 ypg) and 17th in touchdown passes.

• Russell Dandy has lived up to his last name on defense turning into one of the top shut down corners in the Big South-OVC.  Dandy had seven solo tackles on Saturday against UT Martin but also added two pass break-ups to his season total.   Dandy ranks 8th in the FCS in passes defended with ten pass break-ups and one interception.   The ten pass break-ups moved the fifth year corner into a tie for eighth on the EIU single season list where he is tied Ray McElroy who had ten pass break-ups in both 1993 and 1994.  Ben Brown holds the EIU single season record with 16.

• Eastern Illinois added to its team turnover total on Saturday with four turnovers gained against UT Martin.  The Panthers forced four fumbles recovering three of them with one NiJhay Burt interception added in.  EIU now leads the FCS ranks with 17 turnovers gained this season.  The turnovers this season have come in bunches with multiple turnovers gained in four games.  EIU is second nationally in fumbles recovered (8) and second nationally in passes intercepted (9).

• Eastern Illinois lost its homecoming game in overtime for the second straight season as the Panthers lost 28-27 on Saturday to No. 18 UT Martin.   Last season the Panthers lost in double overtime to Lindenwood.   The Panthers last overtime win was against UT Martin on Oct. 20, 2018 with a 24-21 win. The Panthers are 9-9 all-time in overtime games including a 3-0 record during the 2017 season when they played one overtime game and two double overtime contests.

• Justin Bowick had another big day for the Panthers offense on Saturday as the sophomore wide receiver hauled in five passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns.  The previous week Bowick had four catches for 130 yards and a score at Northwestern State for his second career 100-yard receiving day.   Bowick leads the Big South-OVC in touchdown receptions (15th nationally) and has 21 catches for 325 yards this season with both totals ranking in the top ten in the conference.